Richard (Rick) Cary Olson was born on June 27th 1955 to Anona and Robert Olson. Rick passed away on June 23rd 2017 after a tough battle with brain cancer at his home with his loving family by his side.
Rick attended school at Hawthorne and Central Elementary, South Jr High and Borah High School, graduating in 1973. During his high school years, Rick participated in Golden Gloves Boxing and was a Champion boxer. After high school, Rick spent the summer backpacking in the Sawtooth Mountains. He then spent several years working in the pipeline industry, traveling to Wyoming, Montana and around the northwest. Rick also spent some time working on road construction crews and various other construction jobs. He worked with his oldest brother, Rob in the roofing industry and moved to Oxnard California around May 1988, returning to Boise in July 1989 when he assumed ownership of Olson Bros Roofing Company, which he owned and operated up until the time he became ill. The roofing company was transitioned to his son Jason, at that time.
All of the summers of his youth were spent at the family cabin in McCall, ID. Rick was an extremely avid and expert fisherman. He was always happiest with a fishing pole in his hand. His favorite memories were of Steelhead or Salmon fishing. Rick was also a very talented gardener. He maintained a beautiful yard, full of gorgeous flowers that he was extremely proud of and an abundant vegetable garden with fantastic tomatoes that everyone envied. Rick was always happy to share his bounty of both crop and knowledge with anyone he met. Everyone he met became an instant friend and he was always willing to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it. His friendly, sunny, happy disposition made him very well liked by everyone including friends, family, business associates or anyone else who came in contact with him.
In his later years he was an amazing grandfather. He loved spending time with his grandchildren whether it was in the pool, yard, park, McCall or any other activity that they could enjoy together. They were the highlight of his life and they all adore their “Papa”.
Rick married Lorice Lundgren in 1982 and they had two sons, Sean Aaron and Jason Alexander. They later divorced and he married Sue Ford on September 1st 1989. Rick and Sue had one daughter, Heather Ann.
Rick is survived by his mother, Anona; wife, Sue; children, Sean (Jen), Jason (Michele) and Heather; along with grandchildren, Ashton, Kennedy, (Sean’s), Lily and Madison (Jason’s), Taylor, Dylan and Cayden (Heather’s). He was preceded in death by his father, Bob Olson; oldest brother, Rob;and younger brother, Randy. An open house celebration of Rick’s life will be held at the Boise Train Depot on July 6th from 4-8 PM friends and family are encouraged to stop by at their leisure.